A discussion about how The Clothing Drive, a volunteer-run grassroots initiative based in the Greater Toronto Area, got started, how we clothe Syrian refugees to Toronto with donated clothing, and how we use Facebook to spread the word and as infrastructure. Presented at PodCamp Toronto, February 20, 2016 For more information, please visit our website at http://theclothingdrive.org and our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/theclothingdrive

1. Clothing Syrian
Refugees with the
Power of Facebook

2. Presentation for PodCamp Toronto
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Laura-Jean Bernhardson,The Clothing Drive founder
& Connie Crosby,The Clothing Drive volunteer

3. Discussion
• How The Clothing Drive got started
• Using Facebook for growing community
• Spreading the word
• How you can help!

4. How The Clothing
Drive got started

5. https://youtu.be/TWduzqvxeV0

6. Facebook
for growing
community
• Public Facebook
group

7. Super Shopper days (events)

8. •information about donations & volunteering
•weekly donation needs
•calls for volunteers
•events for “Super Shopper” days
•answering questions from community
Public Facebook group

9. Facebook group
for organizing
key volunteers
• Secret Facebook
group

10. Knowledge
sharing
• volunteer managers
report on status of the
shop each day

11. Facebook group for
key volunteers
• “Secret” Facebook group
(not publicly visible)
• info for keyholders, managers & regular
volunteers
• daily updates
• problem-solving
• schedule in header photo
• key documents in shared files

12. Other tools used
•Google docs
•fundrazr.com
•theclothingdrive.org
•many hands &
lots of enthusiasm!

13. Spreading the word

14. Spreading the word
• Started with flyers in Laura-Jean’s stores
• Personal Facebook post spread quickly
• Press release got us on radar of traditional
media
• TV reporters showed up at hotel “pop up
shop” event
• Now using social media primarily

15. How you can help!

16. How you can help!
• Join the Facebook group
• Spread the word! ❤ Facebook,Twitter &
your blogs and podcasts ❤
• Volunteer
• Crowdfunding support
http://fnd.us/c/1167C7
• Clothing donations (see Facebook group for
items needed, please!)
• Sponsor a family

17. http://fnd.us/c/1167C7

18. Thank you!